Jan. 20, 2008

Milwaukee, Wis.  - Northern Illinois men's tennis coach Pontus Hiort liked what he saw towards the end of the fall campaign for the Huskies and hoped that momentum would continue throughout the spring.

If Sunday's performance against IUPUI was any indication, that momentum will continue, as Northern Illinois earned the 6-1 victory over the Jaguars at the Helfaer Tennis and Recreation Center.

"We played very well," Hiort said. "We were sharp, kept our focus and had good energy. It was a good effort.

"Hopefully we can continue to build on our progress."

Junior Brian Livingston (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) got the Huskies off on the right track with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Gabriel Gracia. Livingston later paired with Adam Ford (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) to earn the 8-3 victory over Gracia and Javier Saab at No. 1 doubles.

Saab was also on the losing end of a 6-4, 6-3 decision at the hands of NIU senior Alex Friesen (Vancouver, British Columbia/Burnaby Central) at No. 2 singles. Friesen along with teammate Jimmy Chu (Lima, Peru/San Augustin) teamed up at No. 2 doubles to pick up the 8-3 triumph over Gregory Sosa and E.J. DeChow.

Chu was victorious at No. 4 singles with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Jorge Yunes. Yunes, along with teammate Blake Powers, fell victim to NIU's Alfonso Monroy (Mexico City, Mexico/Colegio Aleman) and Diego Zegarra-Ballon (Lima, Peru/Markham College Prep) by a score of 8-1.

Monroy blanked Jesus Diaz, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 6 singles, while teammate Javier Bernabe (Segovia, Spain/IES Mariano Quintanilla) claimed a 6-3, 6-0 triumph over Diaz at No. 5 singles.

NIU (1-0) is back in action on Saturday, January 26, as the Huskies travel to Iowa City to square off with the University of Iowa at 3 p.m.  

Men's Tennis

Northern Illinois 6, IUPUI 1

January 20, 2008 * Helfaer Tennis and Recreation Center

Singles

No. 1 - Brian Livingston (NIU) def. Gabriel Gracia (IUPUI), 6-2, 6-1

No. 2 - Alex Friesen (NIU) def. Javier Saab (IUPUI), 6-4, 6-3

No. 3 - Gregory Sosa (IUPUI) def. Adam Ford (NIU), 5-7, 6-4, 1-0

No. 4 - Jimmy Chu (NIU) def. Jorge Yunes (IUPUI), 6-0, 6-4

No. 5 - Javier Bernabe (NIU) def. E.J. DeChow (IUPUI), 6-3, 6-0

No. 6 - Alfonso Monroy (NIU) def. Jesus Diaz (IUPUI), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

No. 1 - Ford/Livingston (NIU) def. Gracia/Saab (IUPUI), 8-3

No. 2 - Chu/Friesen (NIU) def. Sosa/DeChow (IUPUI), 8-3

No. 3 - Monroy-Diego Zegarra-Ballon (NIU) def. Yunes/Blake Powers (8-1)

##NIU##